Performance Information

“Not since Leonard Bernstein has classical music had a combination salesman-teacher as irresistible as Kapilow.” – Kansas City Star

In his acclaimed What Makes It Great? series, beloved educator and former NPR music commentator Rob Kapilow “gets audiences in tune with classical music at a deeper level than they ever thought possible” (Los Angeles Times). In a three-part format, Kapilow delves into the youthful exuberance and contrapuntal sophistication of this ever-popular octet for strings. Next, the octet is performed in their entirety, followed by a Q&A with the audience and performers.

Co-presented with Smithsonian Associates

This performance is made possible through the generous support of Marc Grossman and Mildred Patterson, Elizabeth and Jan Lodal, Tom Pickering and Nancy Ely-Raphel, and Edward and Nancy Rice.